Books - Sources
Menaion Supplement - October 28
Holy Protection of the Theotokos
__________
VESPERS
PRIEST
Blessed is our God always, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
CHOIR
Amen.
While the Introductory Psalm is being read, the Priest stands in front of the holy Table and reads the so-called Lamp-lighting Prayers.
READER
Come, let us worship and bow down before God our King.
Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ God our King.
Come, let us worship and bow down before Him, Christ our King and God.
Stand for the reading of the Introductory Psalm.
Psalm 103 (104).
Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, You are magnified exceedingly; You clothe Yourself with thanksgiving and majesty, who cover Yourself with light as with a garment, who stretch out the heavens like a curtain; You are He who covers His upper chambers with water, who makes the clouds His means of approach, who walks on the wings of the winds, who makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire. He established the earth on its stable foundation; it shall not be moved unto ages of ages. The deep like a garment is His covering; the waters shall stand upon the mountains; at Your rebuke they shall flee; at the sound of Your thunder, they shall be afraid. The mountains rise up, and the plains sink down to the place You founded for them. You set a boundary they shall not pass over; neither shall they return to cover the earth. You are He who sends springs into the valley; the waters shall pass between the mountains; they shall give drink to all the wild animals of the field; the wild asses shall quench their thirst; the birds of heaven shall dwell beside them; they shall sing from the midst of the rocks. You are He who waters the mountains from His higher places; the earth shall be satisfied with the fruit of Your works. You are He who causes grass to grow for the cattle, and the green plant for the service of man, to bring forth bread from the earth; and wine gladdens the heart of man, to brighten his face with oil; and bread strengthens man’s heart. The trees of the plain shall be full of fruit, the cedars of Lebanon, which You planted; there the sparrows shall make their nests; the house of the heron takes the lead among them. The high mountains are for the deer; the cliff is a refuge for the rabbits. He made the moon for seasons; the sun knows its setting. You established darkness, and it was night, wherein all the wild animals of the forest will prowl about; the young lions roar and snatch their prey, and seek their food from God. The sun arises, and they are gathered together; and they shall be put to bed in their dens. Man shall go out to his work and to his labor until evening. O Lord, Your works shall be magnified greatly; You made all things in wisdom; the earth was filled with Your creation. There is this great and spacious sea: the creeping things are there without number; the living things are there, both small and great; there the ships pass through; there is this dragon You formed to play therein. All things wait upon You, that You may give them food in due season. When You give it to them, they shall gather it; when You open Your hand, all things shall be filled with Your goodness. But when You turn Your face away, they shall be troubled; when You take away their breath, they shall die and return again to their dust. You shall send forth Your Spirit, and they shall be created, and You shall renew the face of the earth. Let the glory of the Lord be forever; the Lord shall be glad in His works; He looks upon the earth and makes it tremble; He touches the mountains, and they smoke. I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing to my God as long as I exist; may my words be pleasing to Him, and I shall be glad in the Lord. May sinners cease from the earth, and the lawless, so as to be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul.
The sun knows its setting. You established darkness, and it was night.
O Lord, Your works shall be magnified greatly; You made all things in wisdom. [SAAS]
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Glory to You, O God. (3)
Our hope, O Lord, glory to You.
THE PEACE LITANY
DEACON
In peace let us pray to the Lord.
CHOIR (after each petition)
Lord, have mercy.
DEACON
For the peace from above and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
For the peace of the whole world, for the stability of the holy churches of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
For this holy house and for those who enter it with faith, reverence, and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.
For pious and Orthodox Christians, let us pray to the Lord.
For our Archbishop (name), for the honorable presbyterate, for the diaconate in Christ, and for all the clergy and the people, let us pray to the Lord.
For our country, the president, all those in public service, and for our armed forces everywhere, let us pray to the Lord.
For the Holy and Great Church of Christ, for our Sacred Archdiocese, [for this Sacred Metropolis,] for this city and parish, for every city and land, and for the faithful who live in them, let us pray to the Lord.
For favorable weather, for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.
For those who travel by land, sea, and air, for the sick, the suffering, the captives and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger, and distress, let us pray to the Lord.
Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.
Remembering our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.
CHOIR: To You, O Lord.
PRIEST
For to You belong all glory, honor, and worship, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
CHOIR
Amen.
The first stanza of Kathisma 1 of the Psalter may be read, followed by the short litany.
DEACON
Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.
CHOIR
Lord, have mercy.
DEACON
Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.
CHOIR
Lord, have mercy.
DEACON
Remembering our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.
CHOIR
To You, O Lord.
PRIEST
For Yours is the dominion, and Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
CHOIR
Amen.
CHOIR
Mode 1.
Lord, I have cried to You; hear me. Hear me, O Lord. Lord, I have cried to You; hear me. Give heed to the voice of my supplication when I cry to You. Hear me, O Lord. [SAAS]
Let my prayer be set forth before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Hear me, O Lord. [SAAS]
Show Stichologia
Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth, a door of enclosure about my lips.
Incline not my heart to evil words, to make excuses in sins.
With men who work lawlessness; and I will not join with their choice ones.
The righteous man shall correct me with mercy, and he shall reprove me; but let not the oil of the sinner anoint my head.
For my prayer shall be intense in the presence of their pleasures. Their judges are swallowed up by the rock.
They shall hear my words, for they are pleasant. As a clod of ground is dashed to pieces on the earth, so their bones were scattered beside the grave.
For my eyes, O Lord, O Lord, are toward You; in You I hope; take not my soul away.
Keep me from the snares they set for me, and from the stumbling blocks of those who work lawlessness.
Sinners shall fall into their own net; I am alone, until I escape.
I cried to the Lord with my voice, with my voice I prayed to the Lord.
I shall pour out my supplication before Him; I shall declare my affliction in His presence.
When my spirit fainted within me, then You knew my paths.
For on the way I was going, they hid a trap for me.
I looked on my right, and saw there was no one who knew me.
Refuge failed me, and there was no one who cared for my soul.
I cried to You, O Lord; I said, “You are my hope, my portion in the land of the living.”
Attend to my supplication, for I was humbled exceedingly.
Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I.
Bring my soul out of prison to give thanks to Your name, O Lord.
The righteous shall wait for me, until You reward me.
Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice.
Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.
Hide Stichologia
Stichera for the Theotokos.
Menaion Supplement - - -
Mode 1. Marvel at the wondrous paradox.
Ὢ τοῦ παραδόξου θαύματος.
If You, O Lord, should mark transgression, O Lord, who would stand? For there is forgiveness with You. [SAAS]
Marvel at the wondrous paradox! * The pure Mother of God, like a glowing cloud of light, * extends her holy protection on us every day; * and famously she protects, * with her maternal awareness and grace from God, * from enemies and assaults * all who rely on her aid and who sing to her, * “We salute you, Lady full of grace: O rejoice! You are the help * and protection, O Virgin, of the faithful who magnify you.” [GOASD]
Because of Your law, O Lord, I waited for You; my soul waited for Your word. My soul hopes in the Lord. [SAAS]
Oh! So impressive are your miracles! * You were seen, O Lady, taking off your holy veil * and wondrously covering with it the Queen City; * and presently it was clear * that you, O Virgin, had saved all the Christians there * from looming foreign attack, * by grace divine in your glowing protective veil. * Therefore we commemorate this, * and we celebrate with hymns, * to extol you and thank you * for your many splendid miracles. [GOASD]
From the morning watch until night; from the morning watch until night, let Israel hope in the Lord. [SAAS]
We know, O Lady, you care for us * as a Christian people. We proclaim it far and wide. * We praise and extol your motherly concern for us. * You placed us under your own * direct protection from time immemorial. * With pity you let us all * define ourselves as your people and chosen flock. * Therefore we salute you, Maiden * full of grace, and sing, “Rejoice!” * magnifying the graces * of your God-given protective veil. [GOASD]
Additional Stichera.
Menaion Supplement - - -
Mode 4. To a brave one.
Ὡς γενναῖον ἐν Μάρτυσι.
For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption; and He shall redeem Israel from all his transgressions. [SAAS]
We commemorate festively * your protection, O Virgin pure, * and we magnify your sublime benevolence. * In every age you deliver us, * your people, from dire straits * and from enemy attacks. * You provide your abundant grace every day to us, * who extol your magnificence and glory, O all-holy Theotokos, * and the extent of your miracles. [GOASD]
Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; praise Him, all you peoples. [SAAS]
You invisibly laid your veil * of protection and wondrously * rescued the imperial capital of old. * And even now you are visibly * protecting us, guarding us, * all-pure one; and you keep * us your people throughout the world * free from all distress. * So we sing hymns in praise of your protection and its benefits, O Virgin, * and your perpetual help and aid. [GOASD]
For His mercy rules over us; and the truth of the Lord endures forever. [SAAS]
We have heard and are well aware * and have witnessed it many times * in amazing miracles right before our eyes, * that your all holy protection is indeed real, O Virgin pure. * Singing hymns with ardent tears, * we have glorified your immense goodness shown to us. * For you rescue us when we are in danger, and you give us joy and gladness * when we are troubled and suffering. [GOASD]
Glory. Both now.
Menaion Supplement - - -
Mode pl. 2.
Today, we your faithful people, whom you declared to be a holy nation expressly alloted to you, celebrate the grace of your holy protection, O Theotokos, and we sing you songs of gratitude. You have worked wonderful and marvelous miracles among us, not only in preceding generations, but also now; for you protect us and guide us, and you have rescued us from enemies assailing us; and you have filled our souls with gladness. So we acknowledge your grace, and as we run to your radiant protection, we fervently sing to you: O Queen of all, till the end of time, protect us who wholeheartedly call out to you. [GOASD]
Stand for the Entrance.
DEACON (in a low voice)
Let us pray to the Lord.
PRIEST (in a low voice)
ENTRANCE PRAYER
In the evening, in the morning, and at midday, we praise You, we bless You, we give thanks to You, and we pray to You, Master of all, benevolent Lord. Let our prayer be set forth before You as incense. Incline not our hearts to evil words or thoughts, but deliver us all from those who pursue our souls. For our eyes, O Lord, O Lord, are toward You, and in You we hope. Leave us not embarrassed, O our God.
DEACON
Wisdom. Arise.
CLERGY AND PEOPLE
Mode 2.
Gladsome light of holy glory of the holy, blessed, heavenly, immortal Father, O Jesus Christ: arriving at the hour of sunset and having seen the evening light, we praise the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, God. It is worthy for You to be praised at all times with happy voices, O Son of God and Giver of life; * and therefore the world glorifies You. [SD]
DEACON
The evening Prokeimenon!
CHOIR
Prokeimenon. Mode pl. 4.
Behold now, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord. [SAAS] (2)
Verse: Who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God.
Behold now, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord.
The Readings
Menaion Supplement - - -
READER
The reading is from the book of Numbers.
DEACON
Wisdom. Let us be attentive.
READER
Nm 9:15 – 23
Now on the day the tabernacle was raised up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the house of the testimony; from eventide until morning it was on the tabernacle, like the form of fire. So it was always: the cloud covered it by day and the form of fire by night. Whenever the cloud ascended from the tabernacle, after that the children of Israel broke camp; and in the place where the cloud stood, there the children of Israel made camp. At the command of the Lord the children of Israel would make camp, and at the command of the Lord they would break camp. All the days the cloud overshadowed the tabernacle, the children of Israel would encamp. Even when the cloud would continue many days on the tabernacle, the children of Israel would obey God’s orders, and not break camp. So it would be, whenever the cloud would overshadow the tabernacle a number of days, at the voice of the Lord they would encamp, and at the command of the Lord they would break camp. So it would be, when the cloud would continue from eventide until morning, and the cloud would ascend in the morning, then they would break camp; and if the cloud would continue a day or a night, or a month, or an abundance of days overshadowing it, the children of Israel would encamp and not break camp. At the command of the Lord they would break camp, and at the command of the Lord by the hand of Moses they would obey the Lord’s orders. [SAAS]
READER
The reading is from the book of Exodus.
DEACON
Wisdom. Let us be attentive.
READER
Ex 40:15 – 19, 22 – 32
Then it came to pass in the first month of the second year after their departure from Egypt, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was set up. So Moses set up the tabernacle, placed the capitals, inserted the bars, and set up the posts. He spread out the curtains over the tabernacle and put the veil of the tabernacle on it above, as the Lord commanded Moses. Then he took the testimonies, put them into the ark, and inserted the poles under the ark. He then brought the ark into the tabernacle, hung up the veil of the covering, and partitioned off the ark of the testimony, as the Lord commanded Moses. Then he put the lampstand in the tabernacle of testimony, on the south side of the tabernacle; and he placed its lamps before the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses. He also put the gold altar in the tabernacle of testimony in front of the veil; and he burned the incense compound on it, as the Lord commanded Moses. Then he put the altar of burnt offering before the doors of the tabernacle. He also set up the court all around the tabernacle and the altar. So Moses finished all the work. Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of testimony, and the tabernacle was filled with the Lord’s glory. But Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of testimony because the cloud overshadowed it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Whenever the cloud ascended from the tabernacle, the children of Israel prepared to depart with their belongings. But if the cloud did not ascend, they did not prepare to depart until the cloud ascended. For before all Israel, throughout all their journeys, the cloud was above the tabernacle by day, and fire was over it by night. [SAAS]
READER
The reading is from the Prophecy of Ezekiel.
DEACON
Wisdom. Let us be attentive.
READER
Ezk 43:27 – 44:4
Thus says the Lord: “When they have completed these days, then from the eighth day onward the priests shall offer upon the altar your burnt offerings and your peace offerings; and I will accept you, says the Lord God.” Then he brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, which faces east; and it was shut. And the Lord said to me, “This gate shall remain shut; it shall not be opened, and no one shall enter by it; for the Lord, the God of Israel, shall enter by it; therefore it shall remain shut. Only the prince shall sit in it to eat bread before the Lord; he shall enter by way of the vestibule of the gate, and shall go out by the same way.” Then he brought me by way of the north gate to the front of the temple; and I looked, and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord. [SAAS]
LITANY OF FERVENT SUPPLICATION
DEACON
Let us all say with all our soul and with all our mind, let us all say.
CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON
Lord, Ruler of all, God of our fathers, we pray You, hear us and have mercy.
CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON
Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great mercy, we pray You, hear us and have mercy.
CHOIR (after each petition)
Lord, have mercy. (3)
DEACON
Again we pray for pious and Orthodox Christians.
Again we pray for our Archbishop (name).
Again we pray for our brethren: the priests, the hieromonks, the deacons, the monastics, and all our brotherhood in Christ.
Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, protection, forgiveness, and remission of the sins of the servants of God, all pious Orthodox Christians residing and visiting in this city: the parishioners, the members of the parish council, the stewards, and benefactors of this holy church.
Again we pray for the blessed and ever-memorable founders of this holy church, and for all our fathers and brethren who have fallen asleep before us, who here have been piously laid to their rest, as well as the Orthodox everywhere.
Again we pray for those who bear fruit and do good works in this holy and all-venerable church, for those who labor and those who sing, and for the people here present who await Your great and rich mercy.
PRIEST
For You are merciful and benevolent God, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
CHOIR
Amen.
Stand for the reading of prayer.
READER
O Lord, keep us this evening without sin. Blessed are you, O Lord, God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is your name to the ages. Amen. O Lord, let your mercy be upon us for we have set our hope in you. Blessed are you, O Lord, teach me your commandments. Blessed are you, Master, grant me understanding of your commandments. Blessed are you, Holy One, enlighten me with your commandments. Lord, your mercy is forever. Do not despise the works of your hands. To you is due praise, to you is due song, to you is due glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. [HC] ( Amen. )
LITANY OF COMPLETION
DEACON
Let us complete our evening prayer to the Lord.
CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON
Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Your grace.
CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.
DEACON
That the whole evening may be perfect, holy, peaceful, and sinless, let us ask the Lord.
CHOIR (after each petition)
Grant this, O Lord.
DEACON
For an angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask the Lord.
For pardon and remission of our sins and transgressions, let us ask the Lord.
For that which is good and beneficial for our souls, and for peace for the world, let us ask the Lord.
That we may complete the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance, let us ask the Lord.
And let us ask for a Christian end to our life, peaceful, without shame and suffering, and for a good defense before the awesome judgment seat of Christ.
Remembering our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.
CHOIR: To You, O Lord.
PRIEST
For You are good and benevolent God, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
CHOIR: Amen.
PRIEST: Peace be with all.
CHOIR: And with your spirit.
DEACON
Let us bow our heads to the Lord.
CHOIR: To You, O Lord.
PRIEST (in a low voice)
Lord our God, who inclined the heavens and came down for the salvation of humankind, look upon Your servants and Your inheritance; for they have bowed their heads and bent their necks to You, the fearsome yet compassionate Judge, not expecting human help, but awaiting Your mercy and anticipating Your salvation. Guard them at all times, this evening and the coming night, from every enemy, from all demonic activity against them, from unprofitable reflections, and from wicked thoughts.
PRIEST (aloud)
Blessed and glorified be the majesty of Your kingdom, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
CHOIR: Amen.
Litany and Blessing of Loaves.
CHOIR
Idiomelon 1.
Menaion Supplement - - -
Mode 1.
Rejoice in the Lord, O Christians in Greece and everywhere! For you are protected under the veil of protection of the all-lauded Theotokos. As the Mother of the never-setting light, she invisibly extends her protection, which is like the bright cloud, and she surrounds you and protects you on every side; she repels all enemy forces, both visible and invisible, that come against you. So proclaim with a resounding voice the grace that has been given you, and loudly sing the praises of the Virgin who protects you: “Rejoice, Mary full of grace! The Lord is with you. He is our God who grants the world the great mercy.” [GOASD]
Idiomelon 2.
Mode 2.
You were mystically seen as a magnificent Queen by devout St. Andrew, O Theotokos, in your most famous church in Constantinople, when you unfurled your veil and covered the capital. And you have filled us with joy, because you also help us effectively. We pray you, all-lauded Virgin, our protection and help, keep us Christians unharmed by any plots against us. [GOASD]
Idiomelon 3.
Mode 3.
Long ago, the cloud covered the tabernacle, prefiguring the mystery that was accomplished in you, O Virgin. Now your dazzling protective veil surrounds us Christians, who urgently take shelter in you, and it covers us, as a turtledove her young. And you did this manifestly for the imperial city, as was seen in a mystical vision, when you demonstrated your kindness towards us. As we commemorate this, we proclaim the many good things you do for us and your benevolent care for us. For every day you save us from all affliction. [GOASD]
Idiomelon 4.
Mode 4.
O Virgin Theotokos, your veil of protection shines brighter than beams of the sun, and it performs miracles that are glorious and amazing, wonderful and redemptive, for our benefit. Long ago it delivered the imperial city many times, from unexpected dangers and disasters, by performing supernatural miracles. And in our own day, it extricates us from dire straits, O all-immaculate Maiden, and it gives us refreshment and relief in times of trouble, because of your abundant kindness. As we applaud its marvels, we offer up this festal praise, and we wholehearted pray to you: Please do not take away your protection from us, O Lady, but protect us and shelter us your people. [GOASD]
Glory. Both now.
Menaion Supplement - - -
Idiomelon. Mode pl. 1.
Today the Queen of all, the Virgin Mother, unfurls her luminous veil of protection and maternally surrounds and covers our nation. Come, Christians everywhere, with purified minds let us survey how lavishly the Theotokos takes care of us. She is alongside us in good times and bad; she unerringly guides us to the goal of our higher calling; and as the Mother of God, she dispenses grace and mercy to us, and eternal salvation. [GOASD]
DEACON
Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great mercy, we pray You, hear us and have mercy.
CHOIR (after each petition)
Lord, have mercy. (3)
DEACON
Again we pray for pious and Orthodox Christians.
Again we pray for our Archbishop (name).
Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, protection, forgiveness, and remission of the sins of the servants of God, all pious Orthodox Christians residing and visiting in this city: the parishioners, the members of the parish council, the stewards, and benefactors of this holy church, and the servants of God […] who are celebrating this feast.
Again we pray for the protection of the Holy and Great Church of Christ, our Sacred Archdiocese (and this Sacred Metropolis), this city and every city and land, from wrath, famine, pestilence, earthquake, flood, fire, sword, foreign invasion, civil strife, and accidental death. That our good and benevolent God may be merciful, gracious, and forgiving, and may divert and disperse all anger and disease coming against us, and deliver us from His impending justified threat and have mercy on us.
Again we pray that the Lord our God may hear the prayer of us sinners, and have mercy on us.
PRIEST
Hear us, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of earth and of those far off at sea, and forgive us, O Master, forgive us our sins, and have mercy on us. For You are merciful and benevolent God, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
CHOIR
Amen.
PRIEST
Peace be with all.
CHOIR
And with your spirit.
DEACON
Let us bow our heads to the Lord.
CHOIR
To You, O Lord.
PRIEST
Most merciful Master, Lord Jesus Christ our God,
through the intercessions of our all-immaculate Lady Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, the commemoration of whose Holy Protection we celebrate, by the power of the precious and life-giving Cross, the protection of the honorable, heavenly, bodiless powers, the supplications of the honorable, glorious prophet and forerunner John the Baptist, the holy, glorious, and praiseworthy apostles, our fathers among the saints, the great hierarchs and ecumenical teachers Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom; Athanasios, Cyril, and John the Merciful, patriarchs of Alexandria, Nicholas, bishop of Myra, Spyridon, bishop of Trimythous, Nektarios of Pentapolis, the wonderworkers; the holy, glorious, great martyrs George the triumphant, Demetrios the myrrh-streamer, Theodore the soldier, and Theodore the general; Menas the wonderworker; Charalambos and Eleutherios, the hieromartyrs; the holy, glorious, and victorious martyrs; the glorious great Martyr and all-laudable Euphemia; the holy and glorious Martyrs Thecla, Barbara, Anastasia, Katherine, Kyriake, Fotene, Marina, Paraskeve and Irene; our venerable and God-bearing fathers; (local patron saint); holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna; and all Your saints:
Accept our prayer; grant us forgiveness of our transgressions; protect us under the shelter of Your wings; drive away from us every enemy and adversary; grant peace to our life; Lord, have mercy on us and on Your world; and save our souls, as You are good and benevolent.
PRIEST or: CHOIR
Hymn to the Theotokos.
O Virgin Theotokos, rejoice, Mary full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb; for you have borne the Savior of our souls. [SD]
DEACON
Let us pray to the Lord.
CHOIR
Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST
Blessing of the Loaves.
Lord, Jesus Christ our God, who in the wilderness blessed the five loaves and from them satisfied five thousand men, we pray You bless these loaves, this wheat, wine, and oil, and multiply them in this city, and throughout Your world; and sanctify Your faithful servants who partake of them.
For You are He who blesses and sanctifies all things, Christ our God, and to You we offer up glory with Your Father who is without beginning and Your all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
CHOIR
Amen.
CLERGY
Rich men turned poor and went hungry; but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing. [SAAS]
CHOIR
Rich men turned poor and went hungry; but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing. [SAAS] (2)
CHOIR
Aposticha.
Menaion Supplement - - -
Mode pl. 1. Rejoice.
Χαίροις ἀσκητικῶν.
Rejoice! Pure Virgin, Mother of God, * the inexhaustible fount of benevolence! * The holy protection, ardent defense, and comfort of all * Orthodox believers who are in distress! * We always rely on you, blameless Maiden, and run to you * for our salvation and our peace and deliverance, * which we do receive as a gift of your grace from God. * Therefore we praise the miracles your holy protective veil * has done for us, and we honor your most compassionate care for us, * by which you have saved us. * And we trust that you protect us from dangers evermore. [GOASD]
Verse: The Most High sanctified His tabernacle. [SAAS]
Andrew, that fool for Christ, long ago * in church was praying, and a vision was granted him. * He saw you, O all-pure Virgin, as an ethereal Queen, * protecting your people with your holy veil. * We therefore now celebrate and remember this annually, * and we sing praises of your glorious mighty deeds, * all-immaculate Theotokos, and pray to you: * Lady, protect us, keep us safe beneath your protective veil. * We were allotted to your care, as demonstrated by you of old. * And grant joy and gladness, * lasting peace and great mercy to all throughout the world. [GOASD]
Verse: The rich among the people shall entreat your favor. [SAAS]
Pure one, your faithful people took heart * in your most luminous protection and in the hope * of constantly being sheltered by your protective veil; * thus they overpowered boastful enemies. * And now in their gratitude they sing praises extolling you; * and celebrating on this day of the splendid feast * of your holy veil of protection, they cry to you: * “You, holy Virgin, are for us protector and champion * and mighty fortress. We praise you, for by your grace we are safe and sound. * O Lady, we pray you, * ever rescue us from war and adversities to come.” [GOASD]
Glory. Both now.
Menaion Supplement - - -
Mode pl. 4.
The many manifestations of your saving protection that your people have experienced are astonishing to everyone who hears about them, O immaculate Virgin. For throughout history and even now, you are always there for us, in our every need, and you give us relief when we are in dire straits, as you know best, good and loving as you are. O all-lauded Lady, never cease to shower us with your mercies of old, till the end of time, for we are your flock. [GOASD]
Stand for the reading of prayers
PRIEST
Song of Simeon
Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples. A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel. [NKJV]
PEOPLE
Trisagion Prayers.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3)
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, forgive our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Your name’s sake.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
PRIEST
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to ages of ages.
CHOIR
Amen.
Apolytikion.
Menaion Supplement - - -
Mode 1. As a citizen of the desert.
Τῆς ἐρήμου πολίτης.
O Virgin, we sing praises of the gifts of your protection, * which you have extended like a bright cloud ineffably, * invisibly protecting us your flock * from enemy invasions and attacks. * We have you as ardent helper and mighty guard, * and therefore we cry out to you: * Glory to your divinely mighty deeds! * Glory to your protective veil! * Glory to the care you have for us, O immaculate one! [GOASD]
Glory. Both now. Another. Apolytikion.
Menaion Supplement - - -
Mode pl. 4.
Ever-virgin Theotokos, your holy protection, * by which you give shelter to those who rely on you, * is a mighty refuge that you gave to your Christian people; * for you have wondrously saved us, even now as in the past. * You are as if a spiritual cloud surrounding your people. * And therefore we earnestly implore you to inspire peace in our government, * and also on our souls bestow the great mercy. [GOASD]
PRIEST: Let us pray to the Lord.
CHOIR: Lord, have mercy.
PRIEST
May the blessing and the mercy of the Lord come upon you by His divine grace and love for humankind, always, now and ever and to the ages of ages.
CHOIR: Amen.
HIERARCH or READER
The Lord God make firm the holy and pure faith of the pious Orthodox Christians, together with the Holy and Great Church of Christ, our Sacred Archdiocese, [this Sacred Metropolis,] and this city, to the ages of ages.
CHOIR: Amen.
PRIEST
Glory to You, O Christ our God. Glory to You.
May Christ our true God, through the intercessions of His all-pure and all-immaculate holy Mother, the commemoration of whose Holy Protection we celebrate, the power of the precious and life-giving Cross, the protection of the honorable, bodiless powers of heaven, the supplications of the honorable, glorious prophet and forerunner John the Baptist, of the holy, glorious, and praiseworthy apostles, of the holy, glorious, and triumphant martyrs, of our righteous and God-bearing fathers, (local patron saint); of the holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna, and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, as He is good, benevolent, and merciful God.
Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us.
CHOIR
Amen.